Portable photographic dark room.



No. 643,004. Patented Feb. 6, I900. B. W. REA & E. S. GREGORY.

PORTABLE PHUTOGRAPHIC DARK ROOM.

(Application filed Aug. 3, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

Watzwam I Jizvemtozw ,Zen amz'w 7V. hL' jZzmrd/lfiryazy No. 643,004.Patented'Feb. 6, I900. B. W. REA 8:. E. S. GREGORY.

PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC DARK ROOM.

(Application filed Aug. 8, 1899.) Modem 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

aboard/K 07', M W 4. 7flW THE nonms PETEHS co, PuoTo-umm WASNINGTON, ncy m M 5% 6. M? m m w? 3 mm 2 amm M M m W X M e .efficient the operationof this class of dark UNITED STATES BENJAMIN TV. REA AND EDWARD S.

PATENT OFFICE.

GREGORY, OF GALLATIN, MISSOURI.

PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC DARK ROOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,004, dated February6, 1900.

Application filed August 3, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN W. REA and EDWARD S. GREGORY, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Gallatin, in the county of Daviess andState of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in PortablePhotographic Dark Rooms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to portable photographic dark rooms, and has forits object to provide a simple and inexpensive dark room forphotographic purposes that shall be light and capable of being folded upinto compact form and into a small space.

It also has for its object to provide a dark room of the characterdescribed from which all white or injurious light shall be effectuallyexcluded, whereby plates or films may be developed, washed, and fixed orloaded into plate-holders or cameras in plain view of the operator andwith absolute safety.

Finally, it has for its object to improve and simplify the constructionand render more rooms generally.

To these ends the invention consists in the features and in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims following thedescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, wherein Figure l is a perspective View ofour improved dark room set up in position for use. Fig. 2 is a similarview showing the eyepiece and ends detached and the box partially foldedup. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig.4. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the box set up inoperative position. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the eyepiece, showingthe shutters open; and Fig. 6 is a View of a modified construction ofthe eyepiece.

In constructing the dark room a folding or knockdown box is provided,the body of which comprises a framework of wood hinged together andcovered with rubber cloth in the manner which will now be described.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the bottom of thebox, to one edge Serial No. 726,027. (No model.)

of which is hinged the lower edge of one of the sides 2 of the box. Tothe upper edge of the side 2 is hinged one edge of the top 3 of the box,to the opposite edge of which latter is hinged the upper edge of theremaining side 4. As shown, the hinges 2 and 4. are attached to theinner sides of the box, while the hinge 3 is attached to its outersides, whereby the side 2 is adapted to fold down upon the bottom 1 andthe top 3 upon the side 2. The meeting edges of the top, bottom, andsides are tongued and grooved, as at 5, whereby when the box is set upin position for use the tongued and grooved edges match, and thusexclude the light at the joints. The meeting edges of the side 2 and top3 are rabbeted, as at 5, whereby the light is excluded at this pointwhen the box is set up for use. The sides 2 and 4 of the box are coveredwith black rubber cloth 6, While the bottom is lined with zinc, as at 7.In the ends of the box are fitted rectangular frames 8 and 9, the frameSin the rear of the box being covered on the outside with ruby fabric 10and lined with orange-colored paper. This affords a perfectly safelight, to which the most sensitive plates and films may be exposed. Theopposite end frame 9 is covered with rubber cloth 11. The inner edges ofthe frames 8 and 9 are rabbeted, as at 12, to fit light-tight in theends of the box and are each secured in place by hooks 13, pivoted tothe sides of the box and arranged to engage pins 14 in the edges of theend frames. The lower edge of the side 4: is in like manner secured tothe bottom 1. On the inner side of the front end 9 of the box is formeda pocket 15, which serves the purpose of a receptacle for holdingplate-holders and other articles which it may be necessary or desirableto manipulate in the interior of the dark room.

In the top 3 of the box is formed a rectangular aperture 16, in which isremovably fitted light-tight a trunk or casing 17 and held in placetherein by buttons 18, pivoted to the top of the box. As shown, thetrunk or casing is open at its bottom and is also open at one end, as at19. The top 20 of the trunk or casing is inclined downward or tapers offto nothing from its upper open end to the opposite end. Arrangedtransverselyin the trunk or casing is a shutter 21, which is hinged atits upper edge to upper edge of the top 20 and is adapted to closeagainst vertical strips or battens 22, attached to the sides of thetrunk. Another shutter 23 is hinged at one edge, as at 24, to the underforward edge of the trunk and is adapted to fold against the bottom ofthe latter and also against the bottom edge of the shutter 21, wherebythe light is prevented from entering the dark room through the trunk.Attached to the edges of the open end of the trunk is one end of acoiled spring 25, the other end of which is attached to a rectangularpiece of wood 26, having an oval-shaped aperture 27. About the aperture27 is secured a correspondinglyshaped eyepiece 28, formed at its outerend to fit the face oi the operator about the eyes and nose, as 29, andpreferably lined or covered with a soft and pliant textile or othersuitable fabric. As shown, the convolutions of the spring 25 arepreferably rectangular in shape, and about said spring is disposed abellows 30, one end of which is attached to the board 26, carrying theeyepiece, and the other end is fitted and secured over the open end ofthe trunk. The coiled spring thus operates to normally hold the bellowsextended. Attached to the opposite and upper edges of the eyepiece-board26 are two wires or rods 31, the opposite ends of said rods beingpivotally attached to the lower portion of the vertical shutter 21.Similar rods 32 are in like manner attached to the lower portion of theeyepiece-board and at their opposite ends to the free edge portion ofthe horizontal shutter 23. The construction and arrangement are suchthat while the bellows is held extended by the coiled spring the rods 31and 32 hold the shutters closed to exclude the light from the dark room;but when the operator places his eyes to the eyepiece and forces thelatter downward to collapse the bellows the rods operate to swing theshutter 21 up against the bottom of the trunk and the shutter 23 down toan approximately vertical position, thus affording the operator anunobstructed view of the interior of the dark room, as will be morefully hereinafter referred to. In one end of each of the sides 2 and 4is formed a circular aperture 33, about which is secured one end of ablack-rubber-cloth sleeve 34, the opposite end of said sleeve beingeffectually closed by an elastic band 35. hen the dark room is not inuse, the elastic bands close the ends of the sleeves in such manner asto thoroughly exclude the light, and when the dark room is being usedfor developing or chang ing plates or films and similar operations theoperator inserts his hands through the sleeves into the interior of thedark room. The elastic bands will then clasp the ends of the sleevesabout the operators wrists, excluding the light and leaving theoperators hands perfectly free for handling the trays and chemicals,manipulating the plates and films, and performing the other necessaryoperations.

Passing through one of the sides of the box, as 2, isa rubber tube 36,one end of which may be immersed in a vessel of water, and the oppositeor inner end of said tube is provided with an elastic bulb or pump 37 ofordinary and well-known construction, by means of which water may bepumped up from the vessel and sprayed or discharged onto the plates orfilms or into the trays. A drain-cup 38 is arranged in the lower portionof the dark room and is detachaby lfitted at its lower end on a tube 39,that extends through the bottom 1. A flexible tube may, if desired, befitted to the lower end of the tube 39 and lead to any convenientreceptacle for receiving the waste water or chemicals.

The operation of the improved dark room constructed as above describedis as follows: The box is first set up in position in the mannerdescribed and the tube 36 immersed in a suitable receptacle of water.The end 9 of the box is next removed and the trays, chemicals, andplate-holders placed in the box and the end 9 replaced and securelyfastened in place. All light save that transmitted through the rubyfabric and orange-colored paper is effectually excluded from theinterior of the dark room, for the ends of the sleeves are closed tightby the elastic bands and the shutters 21 anc 23 are held closedin themanner before described. The dark room is now in readiness fordeveloping, washing, and fixing the negatives. The operator inserts hishands into the dark room through the sleeves and applies his eyes to theeyepiece. Then by pressing against the latter he collapses the bellowsand opens the shutters, thus giving him an unobstructed View of theinterior of the dark room. Owing to the inclination of the trunk andeyepiece the operator is enabled to look directly down upon the plate,which rests on the bottom of the box between the operators eyes and theruby light. When the shutters are in the position referred to, the lightis prevented from entering the dark room through the trunk, owing to thefact that the outer end of the eyepiece fits the face of the operatorand prevents the light from entering the eyepieces. The operators handsare left perfectly free to perform the necessary operations, whereby thenegatives may be removed from the plateholders or camera, placed in thedevelopingtray, and the latter rocked until the development has beencarried as far as desired, after which the bulb or pump may be operatedto spray the negatives to wash them, and the latter finally deposited inthe sodiumthiosulfate bath to fix them, and upon the completion of thelast-named operation the negatives may be safely removed and washed. Ina similar manner the dark room may be employed for loading or chargingplate-holdcrs and cameras with plates or films or per- IIO forming otheroperations which can only i safely be carried on in ruby or othersimilar light.

The entire device may be folded up when not in use into a very compactform and small space. To fold up the dark room, the trunk is firstremoved from the top and the ends 8 and 9 next removed, after which theside 2 is folded down flat on the bottom. The top 3 is next folded backand down upon the side 2, and the side at then folded down upon the top.The ends 8 and 9 may be then laid upon the folded parts and the trunkdeposited upon the ends. WVhen folded and packed in this manner, theparts may be secured together in any convenient or preferred manner.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a slightly-modified construction of eyepiecethat is designed to permit the latter to be detached and folded up intosmall compass for transportation. As shown in said figure of drawings,instead of hinging the shutters 21 and 23 to the trunka frame isprovided, comprising a rectangular sash 40, adapted to be seated flushagainst the open end 19 of the trunk 17 and is removably secured theretoby hooks 41, pivoted to the sides of the sash and arranged to engagepins 42 on the ends of the trunks and by a spring-catch 43 of ordinaryor any suitable construction attached to the top of the sash. Attachedto the edges of the sash are two triangular sides 44. To the edges ofthe sash is attached the end of the bellows 30. As shown, the shutter 21is hinged to the upper edge of the sash and the shutter 23 is hinged tothe opposite lower edge of the same. In all other respects theconstruction is the same as that before described. By means of themodified construction described the eyepiece may be removed from thetrunk and packed away with the other parts of the device fortransportation.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A dark room,comprising a boxhaving an aperture therein, shutters operating tonormally close'said aperture, a bellows fitted at one end over theaperture, an eyepiece fitted to the outer end of the bellows, means forextending the bellows, and means operating when the bellows is collapsedto close the shutters, substantially as described.

2. A folding dark room comprising a box havinga top and bottom, sideseach hinged at its upper edge to one of the side edges of the top, oneof said sides being hinged at its lower edge to one edge of the bottom,means for detachably connecting the lower edge of the other side to theopposite edge of the bottom, whereby said sides and top are adapted tofold down fiat alternately upon one another and upon the bottom, andrigid end pieces constructed to be removably fitted in the open ends ofthe box and thereby hold the hinged sides and top in position,substantially as described.

3. A folding dark room comprising a box havinghinged bottom, sides andtop arranged to be folded flat upon one another when not in use,removable end pieces detachably fitted in the open ends of the box, saidtop having an aperture therein, shutters operating to normally closesaid aperture, a bellows fitted at one end over the aperture, aneyepiece fitted to the outer end of the bellows, means for extending thebellows, and means operating when the bellows is collapsed to close theshutters, substantially as described.

4. A folding dark room comprising a box having hinged bottom, sides andtop arranged to be folded flat upon one another when not in use,removable end pieces detachably fitted in the open ends of the box, saidtop having an aperture therein, hinged shutters operating to normallyclose said aperture, a bellows fitted at one end over the aperture, aneyepiece fitted to the other end of the bellows, a coiled spring forextending the bellows, and connectionsbetween the eyepiece and shuttersoperating when the eyepiece is depressed to open the shutters,substantially as described.

5. A folding dark room comprising a box having hinged bottom, sides andtop arranged to be folded flat upon one another when not in use,removable end pieces detachably fitted in the open ends of the box, saidtop having an aperture therein, hinged shutters operating to normallyclose said aperture, a bellows fitted at one end over the aperture, aneyepiece fitted to the other end of the bellows, a coiled spring forextending the bellows, and rods pivotally connected at their respectiveends to the shutters and eyepiece and operating to open the shutterswhen the eyepiece is depressed, substantially as described.

6. A portable dark room comprising a box, a trunk or casing fitted inthe top of the box and provided with an aperture at one end, hingedshutters operating to normally close said aperture, a bellows fitted atone end over the aperture, an eyepiece fitted to the other end of thebellows, a coiled spring for extending the bellows, and means operatingwhen the bellows is collapsed to close the shutters, substantially asdescribed.

7. A portable dark room comprising a box, a trunk or casing fitted inthe top of the box and provided with an aperture at one end, hingedshutters operating to normally close said aperture, a bellows fitted atone end over the aperture, an eyepiece fitted to the other end of thebellows, a coiled spring for extending the bellows, and rods connectedto the eyepiece and to said shutters and operating to open the latterwhen the eyepiece is depressed, substantially as described.

8. A portable dark room comprising a box having an aperture in its frontend covered with translucent non-actinic material, a rearwardly inclinedtrunk or casing removably fitted in the top of the box and provided withan aperture in its rear end, hinged shutters operating to normally closesaid aperture, a our hands in presence of two subscribing witbelloWsfitted at one end over the aperture, nesses.

an eyepiece fitted to the other end of the bellows, a coiled spring forextending the belg' s ig d lows, and means operating When the bellows Lx V is collapsed to close the shutters, substantially \Vitnesses: asdescribed. CLIFTON PENN,

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set J. \V. MEADE.

